Bay-Net D-Star

Welcome !

D-STARPacificon D-Star PanelSaturday 10:00-12:00

George Zafiropoulos KJ6VU Moderator

– Board of Cactus and Bay-Net, trustee / builder of WW6BAY new D-Star repeater

– Co-designer of Sierra Radio Systems repeater control systems

Rick McCusker WF6O D-Star for Beginners

– Licensed in 1972 while serving as a Radioman in the U.S. Coast Guard

– Editor of Worldradio Magazine, now with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department

– Trustee of the KS6HRP repeater systems in Folsom, California.

Robin Cutshaw AA4RC DV Dongle & DV Access Point Overview

– Computer & network consultant

– Installed the first D- STAR repeater system in Georgia

– Wrote the gateway add on software known as DPLUS enabling reflectors, etc.

– Co-designer of the DV Dongle hardware and software

Jim Moen K6JM Building a simplex hot spot

– Licensed in 1959. Enjoys SSB, digital modes, QRP and CW.

– Retired IT professional, managed software engineering for Chevron

– Active in D-Star for over 2 years and has built his own D-Star hot spot

David Lake G4ULF Linux-based D-Star repeater software

– Computer network expert at Cisco

– Developer of “NI-STAR” Non-Icom Linux-based G2 compatible repeater software

Today’s Speakers





Rich Timpa KC6OBJ Building an Inexpensive D-Star Compatible Repeater

– First licensed in 1973

– Involved in D-Star since 2005

– Trustee / owner of the new KC6OBJ D-Star repeater at Lake Oroville

Sunday D-Star Session8 AM

Goals…

Introduction to D-Star for new users

Learn about new technologies

from the experts

Welcome to the D-Star Panel

Climbing the Learning Curve

• First impressions

• Quick history lesson

• What’s really cool?

• Local D-Star systems

• Building a new non-IcomD-Star compatible repeater

Conventional wisdom

Proprietary Icom System

Crummy audio

Expensive radios

Very expensive repeaters

6 KHz bandwidth

D-Star First Impressions

Conventional wisdom


Crummy audio

Expensive radios


6 KHz bandwidth

My impression now

Open standard (mostly)

Pretty good audio

50% premium

New low cost alternatives

Not quite

Lots of new cool technology

New use models

Great user community


Conventional wisdom


Crummy audio

Expensive radios


6 KHz bandwidth

My impression now

Open standard (mostly)

Pretty good audio

50% premium

New low cost alternatives

Not quite

Lots of new cool technology

Enables new use models

Great user community


A Brief History of D-Star

JARL definesD-Star spec

• Icom rolls out first D-Star products• Early adopters install systems• Call sign routing

• US usage starts to ramp up• Popular with emcomm groups• G1 and D-Plus gateways

• Many new technologiesDV dongle, GMSK Modem, DVAR, Reflectors

2001 2004 2006 2008 2010

• >15,000 users• >500 repeaters• DV Access Points• NI-Star software

• Clean audio

– No more squelch tails or noise

– All repeaters sound exactly the same

• Build a repeater for under $1k

– Radio(s) + Duplexer + DVAR or G4ULF NI-Star SW + GMSK modem + PC

• Build a wide-area hot-spot

– Computer + radio + $130 modem

• Local area hot-spot using DVAP ~$250

– Works great around the house or take your network with you

– Use hard wired ISP or 3G cell phone network

What’s Really Cool?

NI-STAR Repeater

Satoshi GMSK Modem

DVAPDigital Voice Access Point

DV Dongle

Rich KC6OBJ on D-Starin front of the Acropolis

OUTPUT INPUT CALL LOCATION SPONSOR

144.9600 144.5600 W6DHS Volcano N6RDE

145.0400 144.6400 K6ACS Santa Rosa KD6RC

145.1300 144.5300 W6HHD Mariposa W6HHD

145.4500 144.8500 K6VIS Visalia TCARC

146.5800 147.5850 K6MDD Concord K6MDD

146.8950 146.2950 K6CHO Chico AREA 147.2400 147.8400 K6PIT Pittsburg K6PIT

147.6750 147.0750 KS6HRP Folsom SHARP

440.0375 445.0375 W6YYY Oakland N6LDJ

440.0500 445.0500 K6VIS Visalia TCARC

440.6000 445.6000 W6DHS Volcano N6RDE

442.1125 447.1125 K6ACS Santa Rosa K6ACS

443.8500 448.8500 WD6SJV Dunlap DCTS

444.0750 449.0750 WW6BAY Palo Alto BAY NET

444.1375 449.1375 K6MDD Concord K6MDD

444.6875 449.6875 K6LRG Fremont K6LRG

444.8000 449.8000 W6HHD Mariposa W6HHD

>24 DV Repeaters and >7 DD NodesIn Northern California

OUTPUT INPUT CALL LOCATION SPONSOR 1284.1000 1272.1000 W6HHD Mariposa W6HHD 1284.2000 1272.2000 K6MDD Concord K6MDD 1284.5000 1272.5000 KD6SAC Folsom K6HLE 1285.3000 1273.3000 WD6SJV Dunlap DCTS 1286.3250 1274.3250 K6VIS Visalia TCARC 1286.5250 1274.5250 K6CHO Chico AREA 1286.5250 1274.5250 KI6JUL San Jose AREA 1286.6250 1274.6250 K6LRG Fremont K6LRG

1249.0750 1249.0750 K6MDD Concord K6MDD1249.2250 1249.2250 W6HHD Mariposa W6HHD1250.0000 1250.0000 WD6SJV Dunlap DCTS1255.0000 1255.0000 K6VIS Visalia TCARC1299.3500 1299.3500 K6CHO Chico AREA1299.3500 1249.3500 KI6JUL San Jose AREA1299.5000 1299.5000 KD6SAC Folsom K6HLE

Digital Voice

Digital Voice

Digital Voice

Digital Data

Repeater Bands

K6ACS Santa Rosa 2m UHF

W6CO Mt. Veeder UHF

KS6HRP Folsom 2m

KD6SAC Citrus Heights 1.2

K6HDD Mt. Bullion 2m UHF 1.2

W6DHS Volcano 2m UHF 1.2

K6PIT Pittsburg 2m

K6MDD Mt. Diablo 2m UHF 1.2

W6YYY Oakland UHF

W6UUU Pleasanton UHF

K6LRG Mt. Alison UHF 1.2

WW6BAY Palo Alto UHF

KI6JUL San Jose 1.2

Available at www.bay-net.org

D-Star Compatible Repeater

• 444.075 Digital

• On the US Trust Server

Linked analog repeaters

East bay site

• 443.975 PL 100 Analog

South bay site

• 145.390 PL 100 Analog

• 443.225 PL 100 Analog

• 927.8625 DPL023 Analog

• IRLP & Echolink

Bay-Net

WW6BAY Block DiagramCelwave 526 Duplexer

Angle Linear GaAs FET preamp and filter

Maxtrac Rx Maxtrac Tx

Satoshi modem board

Intel ATOM moboCentos 5.4G4ULF NI-Star SW

USB

InternetEthernet

1U Mini-ITX ATOM Motherboard

Centos 5.4 Linux OSDavid Lake’s “NI-Star” Software

1U Mini-ITX ATOM Motherboard

30 GB SSD Intel Atom Motherboard DC / DC converter Power control relay

Bay-NetWebSite

Pacificon D-Star presentations will be posted on the Bay-Net web site.

Thank You …Bay-Net CrewDavid W6DTW, John KJ6K, Larry KI6MPB

Rich KC6OBJ – Getting me into D-Star

Tim K6BIV, Larry WW6USA – For being so friendly and helpful

David G4ULF &Robin AA4RCGetting the softwareand network running

Jump on in…the water’s fine

Try it here…144.320 Simplex

DVAP @ Pacificon


Rick McCusker WF6O D-Star for Beginners– Licensed in 1972 while serving as a Radioman in the U.S. Coast Guard

– Past editor of Worldradio Magazine

– Now with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department

– Trustee of the KS6HRP repeater systems in Folsom, California.

Robin Cutshaw AA4RC DV Dongle & DVAP



Agenda

D-Star for Beginners!

Rick McCusker, WF6O

D-Star? What the heck is D-Star???

D-Star is an open-source protocol for Digital (kind of) radio for Amateur Radio. It was developed by the Japan Amateur Radio League and widely available to anyone who wishes to use the technology.

Digital??? Well, sort of…. It’s still FM radio, but it has the D-Star technology applied to the signal so it’s not TRUE digital radio… but it’s close!!!

Some believe Icom has a monopoly on D-Star… Nothing could be further from the truth. Icom is the only manufacturer of Amateur Radios embracing the technology – so far!

How does D-Star work?

It works very well, Thank You!

What do I need?

That, my friend is the $64,000 question! You can spend anywhere from $200 to however much you think you can get away with… Basically, it depends on your needs and location.

If you are fortunate enough to live in range of a D-Star repeater system, all you need is a D-Star capable radio.

Not in range of a D-Star repeater? Fret not, my young Jedi! You can get on the D-Star system with a DV (Digital Voice) dongle or a DVAP (Digital Voice Access Point…

D-Star repeater?

D-Star repeaters can only utilize the D-Star mode of operation. There are literally hundreds on line right now, with more coming on line all the time. Is there one near you? If you are within 150 miles of this venue – probably! The web site www.dstarusers.org has a repeater listing and will be able to show D-Star repeaters near you.

http://www.dstarusers.org/

Can I just punch in the information on my D-Star radio and have at it?

Dreamer!!! You wish it was that easy!!! Unfortunately, there are a few things you need to do and that’s why I am up taking up your valuable time. I am here to guide you!

Programming! The key to D-Star communications!

There are two ways to program a D-Star radio – with a computer, software and programming cable (Believe me, this is the easy way) or manually using menus, DTMF keys, etc. But before we get into the meat and potatoes of programming, you’re sitting there asking yourself, “Self, how does this whole enchilada work???”

First, a lesson on D-Star repeaters!

Point to remember – a D-Star repeater is just like your analog FM repeater… pretty much the same requirements. Antenna, power supply, cavities, repeater and controller.

So now you wonder, what’s different? The controller and its’ capabilities. A D-Star controller has the ability to connect through the Internet and send your signal

wherever you tell it to go… BUT, you have to tell it where to go!

Local

Works just like the FM repeaters we all know and love! If the repeater can hear you, you can work

others within range of the repeater.

Not local

Now we’re talking around the world using a GATEWAY system! Special information needs to be in your radio’s programming to do this!

The D-Star repeater has holes! Yes, it does!

Imagine a box with a 3 holes in it – Like this:

D-Star Repeater

Input – your signal comes in here!

Local Output!

GATEWAY!Aka RPT 1

Aka RPT 2

Before you can use a repeater, the system has to know who you are! How do we do that? In the programming software for the IC-2200, IC-2820 and IC-91AD, you will find a place to put in your call sign.

You want to enter CQCQCQ here….

Put your call sign in this box… If you are going to share the radio, you can add up to 4 more call signs…

This is how I have my call sign entries. My XYL, KI6QHP won’t talk on the radio, so I don’t have to share!!!

K6MDD--C

There are 3 other boxes inside the software and each one must have specific information so it knows what

to do with your signal!

This is your local repeater and the module you are using – For example:

K6MDD—C (Mt Diablo ARC, 2 Meters)

C = 2 Meters

B = 70 cM (440) band

A = 1.2 gHz (High Speed Data capable)

By putting in the K6MDD--C entry, you have told the repeater you want your signal to come to the repeater. If you want to talk locally, you don’t have to do anything else!

RPT1

K6MDD--GIf you want to talk locally, you don’t need to put anything in this box! The repeater will send out your signal – LOCALLY!

If you want to talk to somebody somewhere else, you need to put instructions in this box. Using K6MDD again, you would enter: K6MDD—G in the programming. This entry tells the repeater to send your signal out via the GATEWAY system…

Life or Death note:

You must have 8 characters in the boxes! K6MDD only has 5 characters, so you have to add 2 spaces between K6MDD and either C or G. If you don’t, your signal is DOA!!!

RPT2

YOURCALLThis, my friends, is where the magic happens! By properly filling in this box, you can tell the system where you want your signal to go!!!

Look at the three boxes below…. My signal is going to come out on the D-Star 440 MHz repeater in Vienna, Austria!!!

/OE1XDSB K6MDD--C

YOURCALL RPT1

K6MDD--G

RPT2

/OE1XDSB K6MDD--C

YOURCALL RPT1

K6MDD--G

RPT2

Look at the “YOURCALL” box and notice the first character is a “slash” –Whenever you at targeting a specific repeater, aka “call sign routing” you have to add the “slash” to tell the system it is a specific destination you are sending your signal to….. See the “B” on the end? No, it’s not part of the call sign, it’s telling the system to send your signal to the “B” or 440 repeater.

This is all well and good if you want to send your signal to a specific destination…. But, wait, it gets BETTER!!!!

REFLECTORS!!!

Back in the old days – OK, a couple of years ago – D-Star was limited to talking to a specific destination. Someone, somewhere

said to the D-Star GOD, “There must be a better way!”

So, with the advent of new and improved GATEWAY software, D-Star took a major leap forward with REFLECTORS! What, you ask is a Reflector??? A reflector is a method to tie in a BUNCH of D-Star

repeaters into one “address” you add. For instance, Reflector 14C is several repeaters in the western U.S. that are “linked” together.

The list of reflectors keeps growing with more and more special interest groups starting their own reflectors.

As you can see, the possibilities utilizing reflectors is almost endless!!!

So, how do you use a reflector? First, it has to be programmed into your radio. Remember the “YOURCALL” box? You need to use that again…. But TWICE… Here is what it looks like in my 2820 program

In the “YOURCALL” box on line 212 – REF014L is the command to link the GATEWAY able repeater you’re using to Reflector 14 C. The next line, 213 is the command to unlink the repeater from 14 C. NOTE: Check with the owner/trustee of the repeater and get permission to link and unlink… You certainly don’t want to start playing with links anytime your heart desires!

So, what does it all look like when you have programmed your software correctly?

Left side of screen

Right side of screen

Need more help with programming? It’s available. This site will guide you in programming your D-Star radio and it’s easy to use. Give it a try!

D-Star without a radio!

Yes, you can get on D-Star with using a radio. What do you need?

1. A computer with a DSL or better connection to the Internet

2. Either a Digital Voice (DV) dongle, or a Digital Voice Access Point (DVAP)

The DV dongle plugs into a USB port on your computer and connects to the D-Star system. A DVAP is a similar, but uses your D-Star H/T to access the system. You’ll be learning more about these exciting products in just a few minutes!

That’s all the time I have.

Thanks for coming – I hope I’ve eased your fears about getting your feet wet with D-Star!!!




– Computer & network consultant

– Installed the first D- STAR repeater system in Georgia

– Wrote the gateway add on software known as DPLUS enabling reflectors, etc.

– Co-designer of the DV Dongle hardware and software



Today’s Speakers

Robin’s presentation is availableas a separate download

Robin Cutshaw

DVAP & DV Dongle









Today’s Speakers

Building on D-Star DV

Jim Moen – K6JMOctober 16, 2010Pacificon

My Topics Today

• D-Star and Homebrewing– Most Hams buy their D-Star radios (I have two)– Still room for homebrewing & experimentation

• Homebrew Solutions:– HotSpots: Extending the reach of the D-Star Network

• Ideal for locations without RF access to D-Star repeaters• Inexpensive hardware, free software• Supports DPlus, but is not full D-Star (no callsign routing)• This technology is stable and easy to put on the air

– Digital Voice Adapters to add DV to analog radios• Several choices available• Both hardware and software based

HotSpot Block Diagram

• Extends access to DPlus-linked DStar Repeaters and Reflectors• RF handled by analog FM radio• D-Star radio is needed to communicate• GMSK Modem does not decode or encode the DV payload, it just

passes it from and to the internet

Why HotSpots?

• If your QTH has no RF access to a D-Star repeater• Or (like my QTH) is in a multipath shadow• Your D-Star radio can link to DPlus Repeaters and Reflectors• Analog Radio must provide access to discriminator and to direct FM

modulator (9600 Data Port normally works)• PC runs DVAR Hot Spot software (Mark McGregor, KB9KHM)• GMSK Modem interfaces the PC and the radio• Architecturally like DVAP, but somewhat greater power/range• HotSpot can be configured as DPlus Repeater (Rich KC6OBJ Sunday 8am

Salon 1)

D-Star’s Protocol

• Header is not encrypted• GMSK modem sees header fields & passes them to PC • DV Payload created by codec in AMBE chip• HotSpot GMSK modem passes DV payload as a stream

of bits without decoding

•D-Star contains both voice and data for total of 4800 bps•2400 bps Digital Voice•1200 bps FEC on Digital Voice•1200 bps low speed data

GMSK Modem

• Also called Mini Hot Spot (MHS) or Node Adapter• TX, generates gmsk audio for analog FM transmitter• RX, demodulates audio for processing by PC• Decodes the gmsk protocol (headers, routing info)• Does NOT decode or generate Digital Voice stream• So you need a D-Star radio to use it• Inexpensive (kits approx. $80, built $130)

GMSK Modem Sources

• Satoshi Yasuda 7M3TJZ/AD6GZ – http://d-star.dyndns.org/. Designed the first Node Adapter. Also

produces firmware.

• Fred van Kempen PA4YBR – http://www.dutch-star.eu. Provides “mini hotspot” boards, related

hardware and firmware.

• Mark Phillips G7LTT/NI2O– http://www.gmskhotspot.com. Provides similar hotspot boards.

Located in New Jersey.

My NQSMHSfrom G7LTT

HotSpot Software

• Software: DVAR Hot Spot by Mark McGregor KB9KHM is frequently used for HotSpots

• Available in Files section of gmsk_dv_node Yahoo Group

• Also can download from www.dutch-star.eu/software/

Successful HotSpot BuilderWarren KØTMU 82 years young

HotSpot Lessons

• Kits are fun. Have a mentor to help you

• Built boards are not much more expensive

• Start by registering your hotspot “terminal”

• Lots of support at “gmsk_dv_node” group

• HotSpots can link to other HotSpots

– Router (allow incoming UDP on port 20001 and port forward 20001)

– Configure DVAR to accept incoming

• Check out www.k6jm.com/dstar for details

http://www.k6jm.com/dstar

Digital Voice Adapters

Purpose: Add D-Star Compatible DV to many analog radios via 9600 Data port

Why? • Some people like to homebrew• Use HF radio: D-Star on 6 & 10 m

Different DV Adapters

• DUTCH*Star HSA & DVA– DVA has AMBE chip, basic operation

– Plans for full service controller

• GMSKClient s/w & DVDongle & GMSK modem

• DStarClient s/w & DVDongle & soundcard– Both clients require PC, but no internet connection

• FunkAmateur DV Adapter 2.0– Uses ICOM UT-118 D-Star card

– Full service controller

• Satoshi DV Adapter v1.04 (no longer available)

Adapter vs. HotSpot?

• HotSpots pass DV Audio between internet and analog radio without decoding

• So HotSpots don’t have AMBE codec chip

• Adapters create standalone D-Star compatible radios

• Must have AMBE chip to decode/encode Digital Voice

Analog Radio

DUTCH*Star Hotspot Adapter and DV Adapter

HSA

Mike

Speakers

DVA

Example: Adapting analog radio to DV

4.3” x 2.3”

DUTCH*Star HSA & DVA

• HSA - full function Node Adapter GMSK modem• DVA - pairs with HSA, has AMBE chip to encode/decode DV

• Opportunities:– Adapt analog radio to DV (radio needs 9600 Data port, VHF/UHF or HF)

• Access D-Star repeaters and simplex radios with VHF/UHF radio• Simplex D-Star on 6 & 10 meters with HF radio • Talk to new ICOM 9100 with D-Star option• Basic control; future products will include separate control terminal

– HotSpot with built-in DV (no D-Star radio needed)– Repeater running software like StarGate, with built-in DV

• Availability: Beta testing underway. Release date/price not announced• See www.dutch-star.eu/products/hsa/ for more details

http://www.dutch-star.eu/products/hsa/



PC with 2 sound”cards”

DStarClientapplication

Analog Radio

DV Dongle

Soundcard Digital Voice Adapter for Analog Radios

Soundcard #1 Soundcard #2

• Transmit & Receive D-Star digital voice using analog transceiver• Application:GMSKClient by Jonathan Naylor, G4KLX (Windows, Linux)

Available from Files section of “dstar_development” Yahoo group

• Analog radio with 9600 Data port (VHF/UHF or HF)• Interface from PC soundcard to radio: simple direct connect

Avoid PSK31-type interfaces with isolation transformers & filters that remove low audio frequencies used by gmsk

• Sound”card” #2: Cheap is bestAvoid those with audio filters (USB sound fobs are ideal)

• DV Dongle provides access to AMBE codec chip used to encode/decode DV• Very sensitive to which USB sound fob; very touchy adjusting sound levels• Cost: If you already have the PC and analog radio, incremental cost is the DV Dongle• Bottom line: Not as stable as GMSK solution but it’s cheaper and it works

SimpleInterface

Mike

Speakers

PC with 1 soundcard

GMSKClientapplication

Analog Radio

DV Dongle

GMSK Digital Voice Adapter for Analog Radios

• Transmit & Receive D-Star digital voice using analog transceiver• Application:GMSKClient by Jonathan Naylor, G4KLX (Windows, Linux)

Available from Files section of “dstar_development” Yahoo group• Analog radio with 9600 Data port (VHF/UHF or HF)• GMSK modem same as used by HotSpot• DV Dongle provides access to AMBE codec chip used to encode/decode DV• Easier to setup than soundcard interface, more stable solution• Cost: GMSK modem & DV Dongle• Bottom line: More stable interface to analog radio

GMSKmodem

Mike

Speakers

Summary• We are in a golden age of D-Star innovation and development• New hardware and software are allowing build your own D-Star tools• Homebrewing/experimentation are fun and can be relatively inexpensive• This stuff is easy - We can all do it• Lots of support available

– See my website at www.k6jm.com/dstar– Yahoo Groups:

• gmsk_dv_node• dstar_development• DVDongle• K6MDD

– Vendors’ sites:• GMSK modem: Fred van Kempen PA4YBR www.dutch-star.eu• GMSK modem: Mark Phillips G7LTT/NI2O www.gmskhotspot.com• GMSK modem: Satoshi Yasuda 7M3TJZ/AD6GZ d-star.dyndns.org/• DVAR Hot Spot: www.w9arp.com/hotspot/• DVDongle: www.dvdongle.com/• FunkAmateur DV Adapter: www.dstarradioclub-international.com/

http://www.k6jm.com/dstar

http://www.dutch-star.eu/



http://www.gmskhotspot.com/

http://www.w9arp.com/hotspot/

http://www.dvdongle.com/

http://www.dstarradioclub-international.com/








– Computer network expert at Cisco

– Developer of “NI-STAR” Non-Icom Linux-based G2 compatible repeater software

Today’s Speakers

Homebrew D-Star G2 Repeater

David Lake – G4ULF/AF6WW

Initial Project Goals:

• Build a homebrew D-Star repeater

• Connect it to the G2 network

• Connect it to D-Plus/D-Star Monitor/D-Anything Else

• Spend little or no money in the process

GB7MH:

• New 440MHz D-Star repeater for Crawley, West Sussex, UK

• Ideal test-bed for new technologies and ideas….

• Tait T800 Repeater – tested on many other standard FM repeaters/radios since

• Satoshi Yasuda’s GMSK/USB adapter• DutchStar v28-2 or higher• Initially built with v3 firmware – now supported on v4.48.1L and v6/v7

• Mini-ITX system (12V) 8GB SSD (min 4GB) 512MB RAM CentOS 4 or 5 (or Ubuntu….)

• Internet connection

• Key items for FM radios:

– Flat audio response on RX from very low to ~3kHz (IC-F210S had 5 HPFs from discriminator to “audio out”)

– Flat (no audio processing) on TX audio path

– Dual-point modulation, or very, very low PLLfilter cut-off (Nokia/Key BSR 450 fails)

– List of radios tested so far:• Tait T800 (free to £199 maximum)

• Tait TOP Radio Modem

• Tait TM8100

• Icom IC-F210S

• Yaesu FT-8700/8900

• Yaseu FT-817

• Others with “packet port” @ 9600 kbit/s

• Function of “Satoshi” Board:– USB data-in converted to GMSK baseband audio

replica

– GMSK FM representation converted to USB data out messages

– PIC removes/inserts data payload into D-Star frame to/from the GMSK modem

– Does not touch the DV payload

– Board consists of CML CMX589 GMSK modem, PIC(2nd in picture for “standalone” repeater – not required) and op-amp audio buffer

– Can be built for less than $50…

– Satoshi currently selling fully-built units for $120, shipped

– Alternative firmware and boards available

• Function of Software:– G2 Database:

• Postgres database for synchronisation with G2Trust Server

• Includes all features of Icom software except Multicast routing

• Each system appears exactly as if an Icom system

– “DSM” Code:• Single Ethernet port unlike Icom RP2C/Gateway• Emulates RP2C/Gateway by producing similar IP

frames• Allows all existing gateway-resident applications

to be hosted without modification (e.g. D-Plus)

– G2 Repeater code:• Local Repeat function• G2 Routing Function including de-jitter buffer and

re-sync/silence packet in-fill code

• Function of Software:– Some “unique” features:

• Inbuilt, dual-mode ident (configurable timers) sends callsign, date/time and programmable message

• Status of D-Plus linking returned after every local transmission as part of “RPT?”

– E.g. “Unlinked” “Linked REF005 A”

– Single Ethernet, flexible IP addressing– User/Admin pages; ability for admin to directly

add new users; bulk add feature, other futures, e.g. LDAP…

– Cost… Mini-ITX EPIA M1000, £50, SSD, £35, 12VPico-PSU £20, metalwork £30 = £135 ~ $180

– Main database interface and repeater code in native C++ - about 80kBytes total

– User/admin pages in Perl

Software v2 Features

• Ability to support up to 3 GMSK adapters

• Mix & Match of “vendors” supported

• Major improvements in DV packet handling on local repeat

• Tri-mode ident (Date/time, Message, Link Status)

Copyright © 2006 – Texas Interconnect Team

Portable D-Star Repeater

In the bar at “Eleven Didsbury Park” Hotel, Manchester, UK

• Truly Portable:– 2 x Tait Radio Modems– V7 Satoshi board– ASUS EEE 901 Netbook

running Ubuntu– 3G Connection to the

Internet– Countries visited so far:

• UK• US• Netherlands• Belgium• Spain• Italy

Systems on-air• GB7MH, West Sussex, UK

• GB7BM, Birmingham, UK

• GB7NM, Newcastle, UK

• SE0E, Tyreso, Sweden

• OH2RCH, Juhanila, Finland

• WG2MSK, Staten Island

• VK2RHK

• WW6BAY, Palo Alto

• W6IOS

• NW7DR

D-STARQ&A Panel






Documents

Bay-Net D-Star